'Benzos' knocking em down in Vancouver

Vancouver’s Overdose Prevention Society says there were 16 overdoses in the city over two days last week. Director Sarah Blyth says she’s noticed a recent spike in overdoses ever since benzodiazepines, a type of psychoactive drug also known as “benzos,” rolled onto the Vancouver scene. Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed by doctors as an anti-anxiety medication. Because benzodiazepines aren’t effected by Narcan, those brought back from an overdose are still drugged, and can lose their memories for days.

Benzodiazepines work to calm or sedate a person by raising the level of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.

Benzos are usually cut with other drugs.